These lovely hand-painted shaving dishes
were used by putting a little powered soap and water in the bowl, whipping it into a lather
with the brush, then putting the cut-out portion up to your neck to catch any dripping
lather while you brushed it on. Then the shaving bowl would be set down on the wash
stand and the end of the brush laid in the dimple in the bowl... however it looks like
these shaving bowls were never used due to their pristine condition.

Hand-painted around
the rim is the cable-tow (rope), a purely Masonic word which means the scope of a man's
reasonable ability.

Another prominent symbol painted on this piece is the
"Mystic Tie" or Bow... that sacred and inviolable bond which unites men of the
most discordant opinions into one band of brothers, which gives but one language to men of
all nations and one altar to men of all religions, is properly, from the mysterious
influence it exerts, denominated the mystic tie; and Freemasons, because they alone are
under its influence, or enjoy its benefits, are called "Brethren of the Mystic
Tie." The expression was used by Brother Robert Burns in his farewell to the
Brethren of Saint James Lodge, Tarbolton, Scotland,

Brother A. Glass, Ayr Operative Lodge No. 138,
has also in the Freemason (August 5, 1871), later used the expression effectively
thus in allusion to Brother Burns himself:

His was the keen prophetic eye, Could see
afar the glorious birth, Of that great power, whose mystic tie, Shall make
"One Lodge" of all the earth.

A special Thank
You to Worshipful Brother John Hoskins from Knighton Lodge No. 4711
(Leicestershire) for the wonderful pictures of his shaving dishes. Brother
Hoskins is also a member of Lodge of Harmony No. 272 (Boston) England and
Duquesne Lodge M.M.M. No. 13 France.